“We have a lawyer in the family. I’ll arrange for that.” She nodded, rising from her chair.
I wasn’t ready to end this.
“Tess, I have a proposition for you. Let’s grab breakfast together. No talking shop, just getting to know each other.”
“Why?”
“I want you to trust me, and we’re not going to get there just by negotiating.”
“Well, that’s true. This is going even worse than I imagined.”
“How did you imagine it?”
“Never mind.”
“Tess, every time you do that, you make me even more curious. You know that, right?”
She gave me a small smile, and I took that as a good sign that we were moving from enemy territory to a more neutral place.
“You were saying about breakfast?”
“I know a few great places nearby.”
She nodded, placing the stack of papers in her bag.
I led her out of the office right away, not wanting to give her time to reconsider. Putting a hand at the small of her back, I guided her down the corridor.
“Wait, didn’t you say you only have forty minutes?” she asked.
I leaned in, bringing my mouth to her ear, clamoring to be closer. “I’ll clear my schedule for you, Tess.”
“Ah, you’ll clear it for breakfast but not for discussing the contract?”
“As I said, it’s best if Skye is here too when we go through it. For breakfast, however, I want only you.”
She turned her head, looking straight at me. “But—”
“No but.”
“If you have work—”
“I’m taking the morning off, and we’re going to eat breakfast. No discussion.”
She chuckled. “And you think this is the way to convince me you’d make a good business partner?”
“What is the way, Tess? Tell me.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered, pressing her lips in a thin line.
The urge to kiss her just slammed into me. I barely kept from leaning in even closer. That was not the way to win her trust.
On the way out, I stopped by Dexter’s desk.
“Dexter, cancel my next meeting.”
His jaw dropped, but he had the good sense not to contradict me.
Once we stepped outside the brownstone, I mentally reviewed the nearest eateries.
“I know a place with great cheese. Your favorite food, right?”
Tess sighed. “Liam, charming me is not on the table.”
“We said no talking shop, so charming you is absolutely on the table. How else can I win you over?”
I was far too close again, touching her lower back.
Tess drew in a sharp breath, pointing at me. “You’re flirty again.”
“Yes.”
Her mouth formed an O, and it took all my willpower not to lean in even closer. What was it about Tess that made me so impulsive? I was calculated and liked to plan everything, yet I canceled a meeting at the last minute without a second thought.
“Don’t. It can get messy.”
“I agree. But I can’t stop myself. Every time I see you, I tell myself I’ll do better. And every time, I fail.”
“Liam...” She shook her head, glancing around. “So, where’s that breakfast place?”
“Come on, I’ll show you.”
After a five-minute walk, we reached a small restaurant that could only seat about ten people at a time. David, Becca, and I were regulars here. Besides the great food, the vibe was also relaxing with armchairs next to floor-to-ceiling shelves full of books. I led Tess to a round table in one of their nooks. We had complete privacy here. She hesitated, looking down at her feet, fidgeting in her spot.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Okay, so I’ve thought about it. Charming is on the table. But nothing else.”
“Are you sure?” I teased.
“Yes. This is about establishing trust, and—”
“I meant are you sure you can keep it to just being charming? What if your inappropriate side kicks in?”
“Liam...”
“You’re lucky I find that side of you adorable.”
She blushed but held my gaze, as if determined to make a point. After a few seconds of eye contact, she looked down, twiddling with the strap of her bag.
I spoke in her ear. “Sit down, Tess. Let’s order food.”
I didn’t want to make any promises, because I was sure I’d break them all. Outside the confines of the office, it was even more difficult to keep this insane attraction in check.
I heard her sharp intake of breath before she sat in one of the chairs. I sat in the other and ordered my usual selection when the waiter came.
Tess asked for a cheese platter and some special coffee with many extras.
“Let me just check on Skye,” she murmured once the waiter left, typing on her phone. “She was supposed to be done by now. I really hope it’s nothing serious.”
Damn, this woman was too sweet.
After a moment, her phone chimed, and she focused on the screen. She smiled from ear to ear, sighing. “Yes! She just typed back. Doctor confirmed it was just colic. He’s okay, just cranky.”
“Is he your only nephew?”
“Yes. I have a niece named Avery and also another niece, the daughter of my brother-in-law’s sister.”
“I’m losing track.”
She grinned. “Already? I didn’t even give you a rundown of the whole family.”
“How big is it, exactly?”
“Well, there’s Skye and me, obviously. My brother Ryker and my other brother Cole. Our cousin Hunter also lives in the city.”
“Big family.”
She nodded. “Oh yeah. And it just keeps growing with everyone getting married and giving me nieces and nephews.”
She lit up completely. I didn’t think I’d ever seen her smile like this.
“Speaking of your family...I did some digging because I kept thinking your last name sounded familiar. Your family organizes the Ballroom Galas.”
“Yes.”
Even though the events were raising funds for charities, the family was known to have a lot of money.
“I know we said we don’t want to talk shop, but your cousin Hunter runs one of the biggest real estate companies. Why don’t you ask your family for funding?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to mix family and money.”
“Fair enough. I respect that.”
“How about you?” she asked. “Just you and your grandmother?”
“My parents too, but they’re never here. They’re wildlife photographers and travel constantly. I think they’re in New York about ten days per year. I grew up with my grandparents, but my grandpa passed away a few years ago. Since then, I’m keeping a closer eye on Gran. She’s a strong woman, but since Grandpa passed, she’s having a hard time.”
“She was used to sharing her life with someone for decades. Perhaps she’s feeling a bit lost since it’s just her. If they were two peas in a pod, then I think her life is a bit out of balance. It can take time to find a new purpose.”
“That’s exactly it. She’s feeling unbalanced. It takes time to reacclimate yourself after you lose someone.”